About
How did I get here?
I didn't take up art properly until Lockdown in Winter 2020. I am largely self taught though I have attended in-person short courses at Raw Umber Studios in Stroud led by respected artists and online courses with artist Jacob Dhein, the Slade School of Fine Art and the Sadie Valeri Atelier in California. I have also successfully completed a Diploma in Art Appreciation with the Art Institute. I call it my second career as my first career was in the wine industry. In fact I am a Master of Wine trying to become a Master of Art! Though it's only a local exhibition in Bath, I won the 'Emerging Artist' award in 2023 for my Blue Glass Bottle oil painting entry. I am a member of Stroud Artists' Cooperative and New Bath Arts Club and exhibit regularly with them.
As I learn and see more art I get inspired to try a variety of mediums and styles and I tend to have phases when I'll concentrate on oils or watercolour or charcoal or pastels. I love composing still life, I also love birds, wildlife, big land and seascapes and the challenge of portraiture. I look for the light and try to form a connection with the viewer. I want my work to be alive and have meaning on another level.
As part of my learning process I sometimes look at a detail within a wonderful painting and try to emulate it. I call these artworks my Mini Masters.
I live in the Cotswolds and love walking through the local villages where I might take my sketch book and do the occasional watercolour. I have also completed the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way in Scotland which was a big personal achievement and I did a watercolour sketch every day.
The other big exciting thing is that we've converted the loft so I can have an art studio instead of having to move my growing number of art supplies from room to room.
My intention with this website is to record some of my journey so do sign up to my newsletter and see how I progress. I'm also on Facebook and Instagram where I post what I'm up to when I'm painting and sometimes when I'm not!
I hope you enjoy my artwork. Your support is very important to my practice so please do send me any suggestions or feedback.
Susan
Exhibitions
2024 - Stroud Artists Cooperative Winter Exhibition
2024 - New Bath Arts Club Annual Members' Exhibition
2024 - Stroud Artists Cooperative 100 Shades Exhibition
2024 - Cirencester Local Information Centre - local watercolours
2024 - 44AD Associates Annual Exhibition - Static Energy
2023 - Bath Open Art Prize (winner of Emerging Artist Award)
2023 - Stroud Artists Cooperative Winter Exhibition
Why I love painting Still Life
I am increasingly drawn to paint Still Life. I find beauty in simple objects and enjoy composing groups and lighting to create a mood or atmosphere. Some objects are very symbolic, I have a fascination with eggs for example - read my article on this. I've also painted a series of apples. Sometimes I will paint these in a realistic way or get my palette knife and then instinct takes over. I also like painting with a limited palette of just a few colours as I like the overall feeling of harmony that this can create.
Painting Animals
I love wildlife and birds were one of the first things I painted. A friend asked me to do a portrait of a dog and that started a whole stream of requests for pastel pet portraits. I think it's a really nice thing to do for someone and I enjoy trying to capture the spirit and character of the animal.
A word on Authenticity, Art and Truth
I am completely amazed and in awe at what is possible with apps like Photoshop and Procreate but it does mean that we no longer know when we are looking at something whether it is real or not (whatever we mean by 'real'). Original art, where you can see and touch the brushstrokes from the hand of the artist, is unequivocally true and authentic and if you buy direct from the artist, it is even better to have that personal connection. I firmly believe original art will become more valuable in tomorrow's AI world.
